Rob Speranza notes

 Producer: Responsible for raising the money and the budget

Line producer: Responsible for how the money is spent and where.

Promo means promotional which helps you sell.

 Consider what you are making, it isn’t just a short film or beautiful piece of video. You’re making a marketing device. 

Music videos are meant to improve the sales and performance of a musician’s piece of music, it’s a marketing tool.

Before worrying about quality, image, lighting and costumes:

- The bands image

- The fan base

- Social media

- Their ‘look’

- What do they want

- Budget?

- Who are they?

Be inspired by the music. Don’t come up with the idea until you’ve heard the track. The idea has to fit with the lyrics and the vibe of the song. What is the band about overall.

 Be original. Come up with something new. Don’t just try and copy music video you have seen on MTV. You haven’t got the budget. Play to your strength  and convert your weakness into new possibilities. 

Think about the viewer. Watch other successful videos objectively. See how they work. See how they keep the viewer interested. Make sure there is enough going on, either in the performance or visuals. Film more than you think you need. Employ contrast and motion as much as possibly - be extreme. Think about the listener of the music.

Make sure the music actors enjoy the the shoot. Make sure you know what they are going to do so that you can capture all of the great bits of their performance.

Treat your actors and extras well and make sure they can contribute creatively and don’t feel used or abused. Use their skills don’t use them as props. 

Make the band look goo so that includes making them look as attractive as possible. Don’t ignore hair, makeup, wardrobe and sympathetic lighting. 

It’s not a short film. It’s a music video so think images, it’s a marketing device. 

Lesson to each other. Don’t wait for your turn. Take notes as you listen to each other. Be clear of your role and the hierarchy.

- Creativity 

- Technical score

- Marketability 

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